Base-ball curver.



R. W. JONES.

BASE BALL OURVER. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 4, 1912.

Patented May 7, 1912.

WITNESSES /2&M/M

'ATTOHNEYS UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RALPH WILSON JONES, 0F LINCOLN, NEBRASKA;

BASE-BALL cusvnn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed January 4, 1912. Serial No. 669,335.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, RALPH W. Jonas, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented a new and Improved Base-Ball Curver, of which the thereon whereby the ball will curve when thrown, the curves being controlled by the position of the cup and the manipulation of the hand.

In carryingout the objects of the invention, a vacuum cup is provided of an ap preciable size for engaging the ball when grasped in the hand and retarding to a certain extent and ma certain manner the action of the ball when thrown so as to givethe same such a movement as to curve when passing through the air. This cup is held in position by a band which may be made of a size to fit one of the fingers, but is preferably made of a size to fit two or more fingers so that the cup may be shifted or adjusted to any desired position with respect to the fingers- In this avay the cup may be adjusted nicely to any desired point for giving agreator small curve, or various kinds of curves as desired.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the viewsl Figure 1 is a View of a handgrasping a ball having an embodiment of the invention applied to the hand and pressing against the ball; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device; and Fig. 3 is a vertical horizontal,

section through the device shown in Fig. 2.

Referring to the accompanying drawings by numerals, 1 indicates the hand of a person which is shown as grasping a ball 2. It will be evident that the curver 3 secured to the hand 1, may be positioned either on the right hand or on the left hand, as desired.

The curver 3 is formed of a yielding or elastic material, preferably of a good quality of rubber, and provided with avacuum cup structure 4 having secured thereto or formed integral therewith a retaining band 5. The retaining band 5 is preferably formed of rubber and integral with the cup 4, as shown Patented May 7,1912.

in Fig. 3, in order that the rubber may grasp or clamp the fingers or hand when the device is in operation. It will be evident, however, that any other retaining means may be provided, as for instance, a flexible band having an adjustable clasp. The band vo is formed of such a. size preferably that the same may be fitted over'the first two fingers or if stretched may be fitted over thebody of the hand at the point 6. The usual position of the device, however, isatthe point 7 the device being shown at this point.

in Fig. 1. By arranging the band 5 so as to inc-lose two or more of the fingers,.thc band may be rotated partially so as to position the cup I at a point opposite the space between the fingers or opposite either of the fingers, as desired. It will also be evident that the device could be mounted on any two or more fingers and rotated par tially so that there, will be practically no limit: to the'variousadjustments of the cup over the surface of the ball; In this way great or small 'curves maybe thrown and also various kinds of. curves. The curves also may be varied and controlled by the amount of vacuum provided in the cup l. The amount of twist or rotation imparted to the ball for curving the same may be varied also by varying the pressure 'on the.

vacuum cup 4 when applying it to the ball,

as well as by changing the position of the cup in the hand. It will be evident also that the vacuum cup will not mar or scratch the ball, and is adapted to be used with a moist ball if found necessary. This is of considerable advantage in that It 'lS very difficult to curve a moist ballon account of not being able to properly grip the same and retard the movement of the ball at one point for causing a twisting or rotary curving motion.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent for engaging a ball, and means for securing the cup to the hand.

2. A baseball curver comprising a "acuum cup, and a securing member connected therewith Ltor adjustably securing the cup to the hand.

A baseball curver comprising a vacuum cup formed of a yielding resilient material designed to collapse to a greater orless extent according to the amount of curve desired, and a retainingband connected to the cup for holding the cup'to the hand.

4. A baseball curver comprising a ballengaging member and a retaining band formed so as to engage two or more of the fin ers whercbv' the ball-en 'a in member 1s ad ustably held in position opposite any point between the centers of said fingers.

5. A'baseball curver comprising a rubberw'acuum cup, and a rubber band designed to fit any part of the hand for holding the cup at any desired point over the surface of the all.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

RALPH WILSON JONES.

Witnesses:

LUCIAN J. MARSH, Mrs. M. N. GREENE. 

